AFFABLE MARK ZAHRA 1st $7
DONNA CATTIVA DWAYNE DUNN 2nd $2.45F
SUBIASO CRAIG NEWITT 3rd $26
We thought this looked a nice race for the O’Brien trained Donna Cativa to get the gun run in behind Fiveandahalfstar. She did get a great run in transit but had absolutely no room whatsover in the straight and it was a total forgive run. That’s not to say she would have definitely won the race, but what is certain is she had no chance here. Affable settled at the tail but Zahra got her to the outside and she showed a good turn of foot when asked for her effort. Subiaso rank OK at odds to get 3rd.
Worth noting: Horses that were clearly unlucky are often overbet next time out so don’t rush into Donna Cativa ‘blind’.
Race 3. 1600M K.A. Morrison Handicap
THE NEW BOY KATELYN MALLYON 1st $5
LITTLE BRO GLEN BOSS 2nd $6.50
BASHAN STEVEN KING 3rd $21
Little Bro was a huge go but Katelyn Mallyon saved the bookies from a big payout by getting up on The New Boy. She gave him a beautiful ride sitting 2nd outside the leader and he was too strong for the plunge horse. Nothing made any ground at all in this race with the first four on settling and in the run being the first four across the line at the finish. Hot Lover was too bad to be true and he’s still one to keep an eye on next campaign.
Worth noting: Hot Lover was an alarming late drifter and the market got it right.
Race 4. 2000M Baden Baden Trophy
PLAYWRIGHT BEN KNOBEL 1st $8.50
ANUDJAWUN KATELYN MALLYON 2nd $8.50
KUTCHINSKY STEVEN KING 3rd $31
Playwright took up the running and then had a couple go around him at the 1000m. Knobel then snuck up along the fence to hit the front just inside the 200m and hold on in a blanket finish. Anudjawan came home well like he almost always does but he’s a pack chaser if ever there was one. Kutchinsky showed a return to form to be beaten narrowly. Chasse hasn’t run a bad race in a long time now.
Worth noting: Two lengths between the first seven horses across the line shows the importance of luck in running.
Race 5. 1200M The Straight Six
CURTANA CHRIS SYMONS 1st $10
STRATCOMBE CRAIG NEWITT 2nd $4
ROCKING FORCE STEVEN KING 3rd $18
Curtana got out to a big price for a Peter Moody horse who loves the straight and had the blinkers on first time. Her last 400m was good but she really set up the win in a very strong 800m to 400m sectional. Stratcombe lost no admirers with his run but is probably headed for the paddock. Shopaholic only battled away but will be better suited over 1400m and around a bend.
Worth noting: Second Effort and Perturbo were the only two to come down the outside rail but were beaten a long, long way.
Race 6. 3200M Andrew Ramsden Stakes
DAME CLAIRE CRAIG NEWITT 1st $8
MAYTHEHORSEBEMAGIC DWAYNE DUNN 2nd $5
CRAFTY CRUISER BEN MELHAM 3rd $9.50
Last start Dame Claire had a change of tactics and raced on the speed before winning well. Well when you’re on a good thing, stick to it and it was a superb front-running ride from Newitt. Instead of trying to stack them up he made it a true staying test and was five lengths clear at the half-way mark. She simply out-stayed them and was far too good. That made it a double for Newitt and a two-win lead in the Melbourne jockey’s premiership. The favourite Kirribilli Gold never settled well enough to run out the two miles.
Worth noting: Just like we said a fortnight ago, it’s fair to say Pat Carey knows how to train a stayer.
Race 7. 1400M 2012 TROA/Luxbet Winter Championship Series Heat 2
CHOSEN TO FLY DWAYNE DUNN 1st $9.50
POPULATION GARRY MURPHY 2nd $31
ADAMANTIUM GLEN BOSS 3rd $3.60F
Chosen To Fly led all the way and came home with the fastest last 200m of any winner on the day. That gives extra merit to the run of Population who raced midfield and wide before running home very strongly. He just peaked on his run in the last 100m but that was understandable. Big gap to 3rd too. Adamantium got well back last start but raced on the pace here.
Worth noting: Get well Katelyn Mallyon.
Race 8. 1700M Henry Bolte Handicap
ERASET JAKE DUFFY 1st $9
LASPIEL GLEN BOSS 2nd $10
NERIANI DANNY NIKOLIC 3rd $8.50
Eraset has a few ‘convictions’ but his victory here was very impressive to the eye and his last 100m was the fastest of the day’s winners. That’s a good effort for a 1700m race. Laspiel has been racing really well and continued that form here. The Bart Cummings trained Zaamore was coming off a good Bendigo win but was a well beaten 4th despite getting the run of the race.
Worth noting: This was Eraset’s first Flemington win following 10 previous starts for five minor placings.
1st Komodo J Bowman
2nd All Serene B Shinn
3rd Revenge Josh Adams
$75K maiden!
They jumped in a good line with All Serene leading the field from a good draw and racing keenly with the addition of blinkers and Komodo settling a clear second last, 10 lengths back in the 16-horse field and spotted the leader several lengths upon straightening. All Serene looked like he’d pinched it until Komodo came from well back as the widest runner in the straight to get up in the last stride and was the only runner to make any ground. All Serene is racing well this campaign (solid places and a good 4th behind Fat Al at Albury 3 starts back and will win a race very soon.)
Follow: Komodo, All Serene
Race 2
1st Sour Mash J Bowman
2nd Tunes P Robl
3rd Altonio K Nestor
Sour Mash jumped to the lead at a solid clip with Tamanu Park in the box seat behind the leader and favourite Tunes on his outside. Tunes was shaken up a little at the 1000m and Sour Mash kicked at the top of the straight and was gradually reeled in by Tunes and they had a great battle up the straight. Tunes raced very dour and has been up since Feb and might have had enough. Tamanu Park found little. Sour Mash is an imported galloper and has won over a staying trip in the UK and can be followed with some confidence now.
Follow: Sour Mash
Race 3
1st Alumbrado J B McDonald
2nd Smash Hit C Schofield
3rd Liesele A Stead
$7 the field in a very open sprint. Balibo showed brilliant early speed to cross and lead fairly comfortably. They were spread across the track in a tight finish with Alumbrado sticking his neck out on the line to just get up over Smash Hit and Liesele. Liesele sweated on a split opening up in the last furlong which only eventuated in the last 50m and may have won with better luck
Follow: Liesele
Race 4
1st Diamond Earth P Robl
2nd Villa Splendido S Clipperton
3rd Write Cheek Anthony Allen
From barrier 1 Diamond Earth jumped quickly and went through to lead under a good hold. She was well rated in front by Robl and upon straightening showed them all a clean pair of heels and won by ¾ length eased down. Besides the winner, the eye-catching run of the race came from Villa Splendido who made up many lengths in the straight (when it was all over) to run a flattering 2nd. Take nothing away from the winner; she was the only one you wanted to be on in the run.
Follow: Diamond Earth
Race 5
1st Emotional Circus K O’Hara
2nd Choice Words B Spriggs
3rd Leviosa R Thompson
Saraji led from Favourite Miss and Not A Dancer at a good clip. Emotional Circus settled worse than midfield but showed what a much improved filly she is as when she saw daylight she sprinted quickly and put paid to them a long way out to win by 2 ½ lengths eased down and the first of a double for Kathy O’Hara. Not A Dancer stuck on well for 4th.
Follow: Not A Dancer
Race 6
1st Upon This Rock K O’Hara
2nd Shannara J Bowman
3rd Rose Of Peace P Robl
More Strawberries was sent out the favourite and jumped straight to the front from Femina Fashion and LadyLynette moving up 3-wide and well-supported Shannara was tucked away on the rail towards the rear of the field, giving the leaders about 8 lengths. Upon This Rock was relatively friendless in betting but became another winner for Kathy O’Hara after a very heady ride as she was able to sit 3-wide with cover and make her run when she needed to. Shannara was another to get going late but found the winner too good. More Strawberries compounded to finish well out of the places, she’ll strip much fitter for that run.
Follow: Shannara
Race 7
1st Pampellone J Bowman
2nd Flying Fuji R Thompson
3rd Colorado Claire J B McDonald
Pampellone and Colorado Claire were the only 2 in the market. Pampellone led and had some pressure from Colorado Claire who had to work in order to sit outside him. It was all for nothing as Pampellone went 5 in front halfway up the straight and was never in any danger. He went on to win by 4 over Flying Fuji who ran on late for 2nd at cricket score odds. Colorado Claire stuck on OK for 3rd but wasn’t in the same class as the winner who is in top form and will get over more ground.
Follow: Pampellone, Flying Fuji
Race 8
1st Motspur B Shinn
2nd Stratana T Berry
3rd Sutton Queen G Ryan
Pace was set by Zaratone with Welkom Gold on it’s outside and being tracked by Mighty Obvious and Stratana. Upon straightening, Stratana peeled out under a vigorous ride from Tommy Berry but was just overhauled by 9yo Motspur who although first up but had won 2 recent trials. He looks set for another successful preparation and his record now stands at 49-11-5-11. Sutton Queen came through late on the scene in a tight finish for 3rd just ahead of a desperately unlucky Skyetrain who had a lot of trouble obtaining a clear run in the straight.
Follow: Sutton Queen, Skyetrain
Specials From The Meeting: Sour Mash, Pampellone.
